wild cat mccane
Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2009
- Messages
- 977
Hello everyone,
My new P99 AS 9mm just arrived. It cost $400 out the door-truly the find of the century. It is a current gen, and has the unfortunate serial number starting with FAT. Doh! It has the CIP vs the old Eagle (which always looked like an owl to me). I could not find a desired defensive kit with the night sights and ambi long slide release. Drats.
Here we go.
Grip:
The P99 is noticeably slimmer in feel to the TP-9. The TP-9 grip is visually beefier, which some have said is an improvement. P99's have cracked grips before, though it is almost a non issue if one where to use the sample of net posts. That said, the P99 grip is glass reenforced and I am not sure the same is true with the TP-9. Therefore, thickness cannot be used as an accurate indicator of strength.
As I noted before, I married a PPQ small backstrap to my TP-9 with some work from a pocket knife. The TP-9 grip is the same size as the P99/PPQ, except for the rear of the grip which protrudes a few mm's longer to account for a roll pin location farther down. The extra grip length from the TP-9 vs the shorter P99 is 95% accounted for in the magazine of the TP-9. In fact, the TP-9 grip has a smaller foot print than the PPQ. Where the trigger guard on the PPQ is squared, the TP-9 is more round like the P99. The TP-9 lays flat, where the PPQ does not due to slide release and oval grip.
Curiously, the TP-9 backstrap is actually smaller in the larger/substantial area. The Walther small backstrap on the Canik TP-9 did make the TP-9 feel better, as the Canik has a fully round backstrap and the PPQ comes to a point like a pyramid.
My P22 backstrap did not fit in the TP-9. Drats.
Trigger: (none broken in)
The TP-9 is simply heavier than the PPQ and P99. No question. That said, it does hold some advantages and characteristics that can be overlooked.
DA-
The P99 double action is heavy, yet it is relatively smooth when pulling through without staging. The TP-9 double action is heavy, yet has a plastic feel to it not experienced in the P99. Both guns have jumpy triggers in DA when pulling slow as nails. I don't know why you would pull a DA slow though. The DA is a draw, but the TP-9 plastic feel isn't super nice.
SA-
The TP-9 has redeeming feel in SA. The pull of the TP-9 in single action is completely light, than hits a heavier wall just before the break. The weighted wall does not equal the horrors people have posted about. Think M&P or Glock in stock, but only at the break.
The P99 SA has some take up weight mush before reaching the staging area. Light, but there. However, when you reach the staging area, the P99 is perfection-equal to the PPQ if not better. One of the best SA's in polymer that I have felt and I've owned a lot.
Reset is functionally the same on the PPQ, P99AS, and Canik TP-9, super quick. Where you could blow through a reset and fire a second round with minimal effort with the PPQ and P99 due to lighter triggers, the TP-9 takes more effort to fire. No mistake though, they reset the exact same.
Without a doubt, the PPQ and P99 have darn easy and light SA triggers. This, and the ergonomics, make the guns superior in accuracy. I suspect the TP-9 would be equal to any gun with a 5-6lb+ trigger. The TP-9 SA does feel lighter than the youtube video cages are showing. It does not feel like a Sigma.
Take Down:
Guess what? The TP-9 wins for take down speed. The protruding ears of the take down levers are easier and more positive to take down than the flush Walthers. I heard in a youtube review the opposite. I would question that reviewer until the cows come home
Decocker:
The TP-9 decocker is fully ambi. It is slightly heavier to decock than the P99. It is certainly not a problem that more weight is needed to decock the TP-9. I would not say this is a ding.
Magazines:
Both are Mecgar made. TP-9 holds more and is longer. The P99 used to ship as 16 rounders, though it was dang hard to seat the mags. I did have a gen 1 P99 with these mags.
I do plan on buying a TP-9 mag and cutting it to fit the P99...if someone doesn't tell me the holes already there would stop a PPQ M2 mag from working in a P99/PPQ M1.
Gear:
The TP-9 does come with 2 holsters. The hold is not 100% snug, and my TP-9 come with a rub on the hard chrome. However, it was nice to have.
Warranty:
The PPQ has a lifetime warranty, and the P99 and TP-9 come with one year warranties. I find the Walther warranty unacceptable given today's competition. However, I would expect the Walther to be easier to repair given CIA imports the Canik and is not the owning company.
Overall:
At $400, the P99 is the winner. I have never witnessed such a low price though. At $500+, the TP-9 does give up refinement of the P99 that MIGHT be acceptable to some folks.
If you are in the market for a sleek, mass produced polymer gun, the Walther PPQ and P99 are the top in regards to trigger, fit, refinement, finish, and feel. If you are willing to accept there are better triggers and refinement out there, the TP-9 is an excellent choice.
I would not say the TP-9 is regulated to low budget competition only. Compared to a Sig 2022, PX4, SR9, 24/7 G2, and even the M&P and Glock, the TP-9 is good. At $300 and if you don't plan on modding, the TP-9 is hard to beat. I suspect someone will improve that trigger weight soon. At that point and if prices stay low...oh boy, watch out.
In the meantime, the P99 is the Jame Bond gun. It is refined and snazy on the eyes. I do suspect I will buy another TP-9 when they come back in tan finishes.
Thanks everyone.
My new P99 AS 9mm just arrived. It cost $400 out the door-truly the find of the century. It is a current gen, and has the unfortunate serial number starting with FAT. Doh! It has the CIP vs the old Eagle (which always looked like an owl to me). I could not find a desired defensive kit with the night sights and ambi long slide release. Drats.
Here we go.
Grip:
The P99 is noticeably slimmer in feel to the TP-9. The TP-9 grip is visually beefier, which some have said is an improvement. P99's have cracked grips before, though it is almost a non issue if one where to use the sample of net posts. That said, the P99 grip is glass reenforced and I am not sure the same is true with the TP-9. Therefore, thickness cannot be used as an accurate indicator of strength.
As I noted before, I married a PPQ small backstrap to my TP-9 with some work from a pocket knife. The TP-9 grip is the same size as the P99/PPQ, except for the rear of the grip which protrudes a few mm's longer to account for a roll pin location farther down. The extra grip length from the TP-9 vs the shorter P99 is 95% accounted for in the magazine of the TP-9. In fact, the TP-9 grip has a smaller foot print than the PPQ. Where the trigger guard on the PPQ is squared, the TP-9 is more round like the P99. The TP-9 lays flat, where the PPQ does not due to slide release and oval grip.
Curiously, the TP-9 backstrap is actually smaller in the larger/substantial area. The Walther small backstrap on the Canik TP-9 did make the TP-9 feel better, as the Canik has a fully round backstrap and the PPQ comes to a point like a pyramid.
My P22 backstrap did not fit in the TP-9. Drats.
Trigger: (none broken in)
The TP-9 is simply heavier than the PPQ and P99. No question. That said, it does hold some advantages and characteristics that can be overlooked.
DA-
The P99 double action is heavy, yet it is relatively smooth when pulling through without staging. The TP-9 double action is heavy, yet has a plastic feel to it not experienced in the P99. Both guns have jumpy triggers in DA when pulling slow as nails. I don't know why you would pull a DA slow though. The DA is a draw, but the TP-9 plastic feel isn't super nice.
SA-
The TP-9 has redeeming feel in SA. The pull of the TP-9 in single action is completely light, than hits a heavier wall just before the break. The weighted wall does not equal the horrors people have posted about. Think M&P or Glock in stock, but only at the break.
The P99 SA has some take up weight mush before reaching the staging area. Light, but there. However, when you reach the staging area, the P99 is perfection-equal to the PPQ if not better. One of the best SA's in polymer that I have felt and I've owned a lot.
Reset is functionally the same on the PPQ, P99AS, and Canik TP-9, super quick. Where you could blow through a reset and fire a second round with minimal effort with the PPQ and P99 due to lighter triggers, the TP-9 takes more effort to fire. No mistake though, they reset the exact same.
Without a doubt, the PPQ and P99 have darn easy and light SA triggers. This, and the ergonomics, make the guns superior in accuracy. I suspect the TP-9 would be equal to any gun with a 5-6lb+ trigger. The TP-9 SA does feel lighter than the youtube video cages are showing. It does not feel like a Sigma.
Take Down:
Guess what? The TP-9 wins for take down speed. The protruding ears of the take down levers are easier and more positive to take down than the flush Walthers. I heard in a youtube review the opposite. I would question that reviewer until the cows come home
Decocker:
The TP-9 decocker is fully ambi. It is slightly heavier to decock than the P99. It is certainly not a problem that more weight is needed to decock the TP-9. I would not say this is a ding.
Magazines:
Both are Mecgar made. TP-9 holds more and is longer. The P99 used to ship as 16 rounders, though it was dang hard to seat the mags. I did have a gen 1 P99 with these mags.
I do plan on buying a TP-9 mag and cutting it to fit the P99...if someone doesn't tell me the holes already there would stop a PPQ M2 mag from working in a P99/PPQ M1.
Gear:
The TP-9 does come with 2 holsters. The hold is not 100% snug, and my TP-9 come with a rub on the hard chrome. However, it was nice to have.
Warranty:
The PPQ has a lifetime warranty, and the P99 and TP-9 come with one year warranties. I find the Walther warranty unacceptable given today's competition. However, I would expect the Walther to be easier to repair given CIA imports the Canik and is not the owning company.
Overall:
At $400, the P99 is the winner. I have never witnessed such a low price though. At $500+, the TP-9 does give up refinement of the P99 that MIGHT be acceptable to some folks.
If you are in the market for a sleek, mass produced polymer gun, the Walther PPQ and P99 are the top in regards to trigger, fit, refinement, finish, and feel. If you are willing to accept there are better triggers and refinement out there, the TP-9 is an excellent choice.
I would not say the TP-9 is regulated to low budget competition only. Compared to a Sig 2022, PX4, SR9, 24/7 G2, and even the M&P and Glock, the TP-9 is good. At $300 and if you don't plan on modding, the TP-9 is hard to beat. I suspect someone will improve that trigger weight soon. At that point and if prices stay low...oh boy, watch out.
In the meantime, the P99 is the Jame Bond gun. It is refined and snazy on the eyes. I do suspect I will buy another TP-9 when they come back in tan finishes.
Thanks everyone.
